Christmas Eve Eve

Since I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving...and I'm sure you've all been dying for the next post...I'll oblige in updating this blog.

Thanksgiving was SUPER FUN! I went to Portland (drove..lost my voice singing in the car for 12 hours haha. Worth it!) for Thanksgiving and had the most fun ever with the cutest nephew in the world! They cut his hair - which was really really sad...for me. He looks like such a grown up boy now! I do miss his "surf hair" as we lovingly called it. But no denying it - he's still the most adorable boy alive.

This was take one of his "scary" face. He's too sweet to even be scary!

I'm not lying when I swear I have a picture of Jake as a kid somewhere making this EXACT face. This was take 2 of scary faces. He's really not good at them! haha.

We laughed and played games and "I Spy" forever. We roasted marshmallows and read books and one night before bed he said "You're the best aunt in the whole world!" Awww...love him!

Then I came home. Melissa had her baby before I left and I got to see her (Thanks for coming early Paige! I would've been sad if I didn't get to see her newborn). Miss Paige Lund Hinderman was born and she's the most petite little girl I've ever seen! So sweet and cute.

Then I got to babysit! Kurtis and Melissa had tickets to the Christmas concert with the BareNaked Ladies - so I got to watch Preston and Paige! SO FUN! Paige slept the whole time and is just the sweetest thing ever. Preston is a GREAT older brother and he read me a story before he went to bed. He's just learning and did a super fantastic job! My fav part of the night was when he was getting ready for bed, he comes in from brushing his teeth and is wearing his boxers, t-shirt and socks and says to me "does your husband just wear his underwear to bed?" I told him I didn't have a husband. He says "oh, but when you do - he will I promise. He will only wear his underwear to bed." haha. Love that kid. He's quite the character.

And now you're all caught up!

For Christmas I'm staying put. I usually burn out on travel by the end of the year, and will enjoy some peace and quiet around my own place. Wishing all my friends and family the best of holidays and looking forward to a new year and new memories! Praying for snow, and Peace on Earth.
Just Imagine...

Love,

Jamie

xoxox

How much do I love...?

Just had to re-sign my lease for 6 months.
The cute guy (probably kid is a better word for him) in the office was chat-chat-chatty and semi-hitting on me if I do say so myself.
We talked about school, etc - and then he asked how old I was. HAHA
Why do I love that question? What I love even more is making people guess.

He told me "you have a range". Safe. His range for me was 20-25!!
I'm in love with that kiddo! haha. His face was like...hmmm....when I told him I'll be 33 in Jan.

Note: He may just be horrible with guessing people's ages like I am. haha. But I'll take it where I can get it!

The book the sassed me back

When I was in Houston for work last month - on the way back in the airport I bought a book. This shop was bigger than most book stores you find in airports and I had plenty of time to browse. Usually I have in mind a book I've been dying to read - but this trip...not so much. So I'm walking around and Chatty McGee - the guy working the shop - kept offering to help me find something. Which always bugs me. It's like asking the waiter "what would you suggest" when you go out to dinner. You don't know me from the homeless guy off the street - so how about you tell me what I would like to eat tonight. haha. That one always makes me laugh.

Anyway - so I'm looking and I see this section titled Mystery. I usually like a good - make you think, scare you a little kind of book. There's an author that I'd read a couple of times called Mary Higgins Clark and it was always an easy read. At the time I couldn't remember her name just knew she wrote a lot of books. So when I picked up the book titled Vision in White by Nora Roberts (there was quite a lot of books written by her as well) I figured..yep this must be it! And being a mystery book about a wedding - it had to be good right? I figured there would be some blood on the dress, some axe murdering ex-boyfriend come to break up the event, steal the bride. Who knows!

I'm of the addage - judge a book by it's cover. Usually if the publishers/writers can't muster up a little effort to market a book so I want to read it. You win! I probably don't want to read it. After I got onto the plane and started reading - I kept wondering where the mystery part came into play. (FYI - my hindsight can be your tiny fortune....Nora Roberts is a romance book writer. What these books were doing in the mystery section - I will never know). HAHAHAA Laughs on me even further when I got totally hooked. I read the book in one day! LOVED IT! In face just bought Book 2 of the 4 book series yesterday when I was out with Melissa at Target (and just finished it too!) SUCKER!

Houston, TX

Cute Miss Elizabeth


Mister Carson - who is so funny


Noah who was SOOO proud of those things on his face
and the fact that his jersey is REVERSE-ABLE! No
greater magic on Earth could've topped that discovery!

I was in Houston for work 2 weekends ago. And in between my classes that I was teaching I got a chance to visit my friend Sarah who just moved from TN, to TX. It was a very lucky thing! Although I would've loved to stay longer I was only in town and had the afternoon free. We got to go to Noah's football game and run around their house like crazy people! It was a fun day with my fun friend! I just wish the picture of us had turned out better! haha. I guess it goes to show you don't let the 5 year old take the picture! :)


Jamie & Sarah. Great Friends!


Some of my favourite kiddos!

**Sarah, I'll email you a link to the videos of Noah's game so you can show Jason**

A very funny little girl

My good friend Laurel text me tonight after my Irish Dancing class to see if I could come and watch her daughter Rachel and son Quin. Of course I agreed! Rachel is like the funniest little girl ever. When I got there she was already in her PJ's and running around singing and dancing with Go Diego and Little Einstein. After Laurel and Aaron left for their concert and Quin was already in bed, Rachel told me that she needed to change her baby. She went into Quin's room and got a diaper and wipes and proceeded to change her baby. She looks over and me and says, "Jamie, my baby is a poopin' machine!" She was TOTALLY serious! She also proceeded to wipe up her chair that apparently the poopin' machine had gotten poop on. She's also the girl who breast-feeds here baby and then says "EW!" drops the baby and then says "she spit up all over me. DISGUSTING!" I love hearing Laurel phrases come out of her daughter's mouth. Kids crack me up lately - but especially that one! After I left Laurel text me and said "Rachel just said 'I can't wait to see Jamie again' ". Awwwww! How can you not love this face?

For Kristi

I'm sorry that it's sideways....



This was the video we made you on the way down - and then didn't take another picture all weekend! haha. SORRY! Hope this makes you feel like you were sorely missed.

Jig-a-Jig-ahhhh

I hope you all have the Spice Girls song in your head now! HAHA.

I'm all about the Jig lately with my latest continuing education class of Irish Dance! It's soooo totally fun. And my legs/calves are loving me (NOT) for jumping around and constantly having to be on my toes the whole hour class. It's a total fun time! Seriously if they gave out degrees for random continuing education classes that would get you nowhere in life - I would totally have my PHD! Why do I have to only love FUN classes?! It used to be the family joke that my dad's sister majored in Bird Watching and Badminton (I'm not entirely sure that's true) But now at least I see where I get it!

We're to have a recital on the last day of class in October. You can be sure there will be video of that!

Surgery

I had surgery on Friday and have been recooperating all weekend. I sucked it up today and went into work for 3 hours because I'm just tired of being home. And my doctor told me I could do whatever I wanted...(so there!) Actually he told me I could do whatever I felt like I could do - I just used a little exaggeration, as I so often like to, to get my way! SO THERE!

Surgery was fine. It was weird because my arrival time was noon - but they called at 10:30 to say my doctor was running EARLY so could I just come now? Yes please! Although it took us forever to get there because my mom has no idea where she's going so we had to take the easiest (read: LONGEST) way there. But we made it and they rushed us through like a V.I.P. Hey - even if it's just for surgery, I'll take it. The nurse who started my IV was nice, but creeped me out because she didn't wear a glove on one hand. Of course my blood got everywhere and she just looks at me and goes "oh - you're healthy right?" I wanted to say - no I've got the HIV...good luck with that. But my mom sitting next to me (equally horrified I might add) kept my sarcastic comments to a minimum. Seriously...UTAH!?!?!

My surgeon came in and was like "okay questions"? So I'm like sure whattya got? He's like - no do you have questions for me? HAHA. I'm retarded and not even drugged at this point. The O.R. Nurse Molly was super nice and chatted me about how great my Anesthesiologist was (of course I asked her if she says that about everyone. She says no. And I believe her! haha). The Anethesiologist came out - talked to me for a second, drugged me and that's about all I remember. I woke up in recovery.

Surgery took longer than expected, not sure why and my top "hole" they made in my chest is bigger than they said it was going to be - but whatever. My mom was waiting in the waiting room with all the other families and said that doctors would come in and say "everything went great...blah blah" and then the lady at the desk told her my doctor wanted to see her in a consult room (this is after my surgery was already taking way longer than they said). She was freaking out. Finally the guy decides to join her in the consult room and basically says "she did great". I think my mom wanted to come across the table and kick his face in. haha GO CHERYL!

It's been funny to me how totally small things have become giant steps for man-kind. They wouldn't discharge me from the hospital until I could pee. Who knew that a 32 year old woman going pee in the toilet was cause for celebration!?! But it is! Also, the IV was on my right hand, and it's really hard to "wipe" with your wrong hand. Seriously try it out.

I got home that afternoon and my great friend Samantha had sent flowers to my house! She's so nice. Melissa came over the next day and brought me magazines, a book and some candy (because it's fat free haha). Thanks girls! It definitely made my weekend.

Privacy

Yes - I've gone "private" with my blog. I'm just trying it out really. I had it linked on my Facebook and then sooo many work people kept adding me that I was like - hmmmm...where to vent everything I want without worrying the wrong people are reading this. Plus there are just some people I don't want reading my blog.

I feel like I've been a grouchy version of myself lately. Partly because I haven't felt well for like a month. Hopefully soon to be resolved by a quick surgery on Friday! YOW! The gall bladder must come out apparently. Crazy intense pain and not sleeping all that well, but I feel like my life is in a rut.

Melissa and I have been walking lately. It's fun to just walk around talking and catching up. That's what I love about my close friends is that we don't have to re-hash the glory days. Although they were great....friendship to me has to move on. I can talk to her about anything, and while we're in very different places in our lives - we're still just great friends. I like that. We go through our phases of more talking and less talking, and that's totally fine. We can pick up, catch up on what we've missed and move on. It used to bug me that sometimes we wouldn't talk for long periods and I felt like I always had to make the effort to keep the contact (sorry Melis if you're reading this..haha) - but I realize that's just who she is. I've gotten over my insecurities with our friendship - know it will always be there - and just enjoy the times together when they happen. And sometimes I'm total crap about keeping in touch with people too! So I probably have no room to talk.

So welcome to my private blog. Hope you're enjoying yourself. Can I get you anything?

Death Cab for Cutie Concert

Last night Hayley, Garrett, and my friend Matt went to see Death Cab at Red Butte Gardens. I want to take up residence at this place for shows - seriously..(except when it gets SUPER cold after the sun goes down). But I still love it.

The opening acts Ra-Ra-Riot...not loving them.
Andrew Bird....I liked him except all his GD whistling! Seriously every song! (and trust me...we kept track).
And then the "cuties" came on - and it was FANTASTIC.

They opened with a fav which always sets the mood off well.



I told Matt I was kind of hoping they wouldn't play this next song kind of as a "suck it", to all the people who ONLY KNOW THIS SONG!! But...it is a good one :) (also loved that just as I stopped taping...the girl next to me said to her friend "this song is totally about world peace". Ahhh i love the cheesy sap that comes out of people at concerts! Especially when they're wrong.



My fav part of the night was when Ben Gibbard (lead singer also engaged to Zooey Dachanel-there's a little fun fact for ya!) made fun of all the cheap bastards that didn't pay for tickets but sit on top of the hill on the backside of the ampitheatre. He's a funny guy that one.

All in all - another lovely summer night full of good music, good friends, and AMAZING people watching! haha.

Indigo Girls Concert

We went to see the Girls tonight at Red Butte Gardens. I'm in love with this outdoor venue now. The concert was amazing!!! Great weather, great laughs with friends, couldn't ask for more. So that you feel like you were there with me - I sneaked some videos. :) When I'm in places like this - I realize that I do live in, quite possibly, the most beautiful city in the world.


and Amy sang my fav (oh don't worry, I sang along. I had to keep the video short because I couldn't keep it in anymore! haha)


Thanks Kari and Laurel for going with! Great times!

My Favourite T-Baby

So as mentioned before that we're taking Balloon Art. When I went up to Portland I brought balloons with me, but could only remember how to make the sword (it's really the easiest thing ever). Which launched us into a HUGE sword fight for at least 45 minutes. And then this conversation with my cute nephew. It's probably not cute to anyone else - but I love to see him talking so much. It wasn't long ago that he barely spoke at all. His munchkin voice is adorable and his logic astounds me. My favourite phrase from the weekend was "I doubt it means more no than yes" (clearly he hears that a lot!). And "Probably means more yes than no". So when we woke up one morning and he was staring at me - I said (from Ethan's bed next to his) "Hey Trent, do you wanna come snuggle me?" His response: "Probably". haha. Even first thing in the morning he's quite clever.

Off the blogging bandwagon.

Lately I have had nothing clever or inspired to say - so I've chosen to say nothing at all. Thumper's mom would be proud.

Last weekend I went to Portland to just chillax with the brothers and of course Mister T (Trent) which he has officially now told me "ummm..but my name is Srent" (that's what he calls himself) when I say Mister T. We had lots of fun, I'll add pictures someday I'm sure.

Yesterday I taught a scrapbooking class in Layton. I had to be peppy and in Layton at 8am on a Saturday morning. I don't even make it to work on time at 8am - and that's 10 minutes away. BLARG to that 45 minute drive. I was grouchy, I wasn't awake and these 2 ladies in my first of 2 classes were the most annoying things ever. They weren't awake either and kept doing everything wrong and then acting like I had just told them to do it. I might have dropped the F-bomb under my breath at them...haha. The ladies in class #2 were way better.

Yep - that's all I've got for this blog now.
Oh - my class for the month is Balloon Art. I learned how to make a dog and a sword last week - and already can't remember how to do either. Whatever - not like I'm actually going to become a clown in my spare time...but the class is super fun - and of course Ms. Samantha is a RIOT!

Dancin' Feet

I don't really mean that they're super coordinated - they just got jacked up tonight in tap class.

Some of you that attended college with me - this might be deja vu for you as you've possibly seen band-aids on my feet before. Who am I kidding, I love band-aids and any excuse to use them. But these are current. I went to tap class and only had one sock - so I tapped sockless in my shoes. DUMB.

YES, I'm taking Tap Dancing class. It's actually really fun - and I don't want to brag, but my friend Samantha and I are seriously the best in the class. I'm also not going to tell you that the rest of the class is over 60 probably and we might be the best because we can at least remember the moves from one week to the next. Youth wins again! But it really is a fun way to work out.

This is me doing the "Jazz Square" that I love to throw Jazz hands into just to make Samantha laugh. HAHA.

Can't get enough

Tonight I've listened to this song no less than 25 times. Something in it is striking a chord in me. I can't put my finger on it - but thought I would share. I'm normally not a HUGE Faith Hill fan...but this song is actually great. Ps - i hate the beginning where she's totally cheesy with the non famous guy. *eyeroll*

Soul

This song always makes me feel a little sunshine when I'm feeling lost, which seems to be a lot lately. Just love the simplicity of it and wish all things in life were so simple and clean. I always feel like I can do more, be more to help the good of society - but I'm too wrapped up in my own world. Maybe a New May Resolution.

Baby Brother

One of my best friends in the whole world, Laurel, had a baby boy on early early early Tuesday morning. They got to the hospital around 11 something pm...it all happened super fast, couldn't get any drugs, 4 pushes later and out comes "baby brother". They're still deciding on a name. Here is what I love about my friend Laurel. She has this traumatic birth where everyone is taking their good sweet time getting around to her, she has to suffer through natural birth - not by choice, pops out a kid at just before 1am...and texts me at 1:30am to tell me he's arrived. I love that girl! Tonight I got to go over and hold him and cuddle him. He's SOOOO cute. I pretty much hogged him the whole time - which, another reason I love her - SHE LET ME! Her daughter Rachel was a cute baby, but seemed so much more sturdy than this little guy. He is TINY! He was only a few ounces smaller - but he seems like just this tiny tiny version of a baby. I held Rachel the morning after she was born still in the hospital. He still seems tinier than that. Anyway, for your viewing pleasure - here is "baby brother". I put my vote in for Grant, which is what it was going to be - but Aaron (her husband) called a last minute audible (he coaches football for the U, so had to throw in a football term) and now they're tossing back and forth between Grant and Quinn. We'll see...

Stalling Tactic.

Hi! Remember me? The writer of this blog? Seriously nothing that different or write-able has happened to me since last month. I took 3 trips in March (2 for work, 1 for fun?) and have been trying to catch up ever since.

Last week I decided to start eating healthier. Note: I lost 5.7 lbs last week! This week, I'm eating healthier WHILE adding in the working out factor. I'm actually supposed to be working out right now, but stalling and any excuse will do.

Here's what I found so intriguing I had to blog about it.

Did you know that I walk around my apt nekkid a good lot of the time? Yup I do. No biggie right? But - I sometimes leave the blinds in my family room on my sliding door, not only open, but pulled all the way back for all to see.

Here's the funny thing - I'm about to go start a workout tape. Fully dressed, no biggie...and I had to close the blinds! Priorities really.

Okay off I go now...no more stalling!

A tap-tap-tappy!

I haven't blogged in a VERY long while! I've just been so busy!

My dad is turning 60 on the 7th of March, so we're all going to Portland to celebrate. I (the person in the family with the least spare time) took the project on to create a book for my dad for his birthday gift. I'm playing the martyr a little bit because it was actually my idea - and let's face it - wouldn't have turned out at all if one of the boys took it on, or would've been ULTRA cheesy if my mom did. Gotta love being middle-ground. It arrived at Matt's house today and he thinks it looks awesome! I'm excited to see it in real life - because it certainly sucked a lot of time.

Samantha and I went snowboarding (well she went skiing) on Sunday at the Canyons in Park City. It was like the BEST day for outdoor recreation EVER! I'm only slightly sore, and only fell 5 times - which since I haven't gone for maybe 2+ seasons...isn't all that bad. The first fall was a doosey where I actually made the *insert getting punched in the gut sound here* "Oooooph" sound as I went down! Haha...I laughed forever about that one the rest of the way down. I forget, until I'm up there, how much I really do love snowboarding. I also realize how old I'm getting when I was considering taking my medical/insurance cards in my pocket. Funnier that when I was going 3 times a week in college, I didn't even HAVE insurance! Some did get life-flighted off while we were there.

And lastly - Tap Dancing Class! That's right - my latest class is tap dance! OMG it's soooo much fun. If you think I don't wear hot blue leg warmers to class everyweek...you'd be WRONG! Here is video I took of the teacher doing the routine that we're learning - up to what we've learned...not much..(the point was so I could practice...but that really hasn't happened yet). I'll video me doing it when I can get past getting SO excited I can do the turn, I forget to do the rest! haha. Our teacher is completely adorable - I have no idea what her name is - and LOVE that she's a total cheeseball in this video. I even love to hate the kiss ass in our class who practices hours a day at home each week, and made a CD of music for our teacher (GAG!). I mean it's tap dance class! Get over yourself!

Busy Saturday & a wedding!

I was dreading yesterday before it even started....BUSY!

I had to take my car in for its 30,000 mile checkup. At 8am sharp I was in the Larry H Miller Honda dealership getting set up in their waiting room with all my projects I brought along with to work on because they warned me I'd be there about 2 hours. And my short attention span I need to change projects a lot.

After that I had to run some errands for work - picking things up I should have during the week, but was too busy to leave the office. Got home at 11:15, wrapped the gift I've had sitting in my living room for 2 weeks for Hayley's Wedding reception that night and then headed out to get mani's and pedi's with my friend Jen. I have red fingers and toes now. I'm not usually a fingernail painter - but whatever..I'm 32 now! I can do whatever I want! (so there!)

Then went back to my house to change for the reception and made it to the other end of the Valley by 7pm! Hayley was such a pretty pretty bride! And it was great to see Holly and Heather and Heidi too (all the Jones girls) and the Jones parents. Everything was beautiful. The decorations were so pretty and the potato bar was delish!

Busy day! But fun to spend it AND get to see my "girls" (the H's) all in the same day!

What an AMAZING day!

I'm officially 32 today! WOO HOO!

I can honestly say I don't think I've ever felt more love on a birthday in my entire life. I mean of course my family always shows me love on my special day, but I just mean from people outside my family - I felt loved. I'm so grateful for my friends and how many people went out of their way to acknowledge my birthday. Very nice.

Then on my birthday day (today!) My friend Kari at work made me the most delicious fruit salad I've ever had! That meant a lot to me as well!

All in all - possibly the best birthday ever! Thanks to all who made it special. I'm lucky!

New Resolutions

First off, let's talk about New Years Resolutions! I usually LOVE making resolutions! I usually go for the non-traditional ones. Yes I would love to love 25 lbs (who am I kidding 30 would even be better!), but those are so un-spoken that I feel like they shouldn't count. I enjoyed my resolutions of 2008 and actually kept mine because I broke it down to "do something I've never done before each month." (thus all my blogs about classes I took! I was lucky to have great friends that wanted to join me in my quest part way through the year!) So this year - I'm not sure how to one-up last year. Perhaps I'll just carry on.... I still have 7 hours to decide.